Method for attaching an electrical fixture to a junction box

ABSTRACT

A mounting assembly for connecting a housing of an electrical fixture to an electrical junction box, in which a plate attached to the housing includes a locking member having an engager at a first end moveable relative to the plate between a first position and a second position. A locking post adapted for connecting to an electrical junction box includes a receiver for engaging the engager. The locking post secures the housing to the electrical junction box upon moving the locking member to the second position to engage the engager with the receiver of the locking post. A method of attaching a housing for an electrical fixture to an electrical junction box is disclosed.

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §120 as a divisional ofco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/500,045, filed Aug. 7,2006, a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/393,520, filedMar. 18, 2003, U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,744.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to electrical fixtures. More particularly,the present invention relates to mounting brackets for securingelectrical fixtures to junction boxes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical fixtures typically attach to junction boxes for supportingthe fixtures and for providing enclosures for electrical wiringconnections between an electric current supply and the fixture. Junctionboxes used for lighting often have an open side and a cross memberattaches with screws to ears of the junction box. A stem extends fromthe cross member. The stem extends through an opening in the fixture. Anut threads on the stem to secure the fixture to the stem and thus tothe junction box. In other fixtures, spaced-apart openings in thefixture receive screws that threadingly engage openings in the crossmember.

While this has been useful in connecting fixtures to junction boxes, theinstallation of the fixture raises problems. The structure of thefixture is limited by the need to provide access to the stem or theseparate screws for connecting the fixture to the junction box. In somefixtures, a separate connection is required to secure the fixture to atransition member that rigidly connects to the junction box or the crossmember. It also takes some time and skill to properly align the fixtureto the junction box and tighten the nut or the screws that secure thefixture to the junction box. Wiring connections between the fixture andthe junction box also presents problems.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a mounting bracket forsecuring electrical fixtures to junction boxes. It is to such that thepresent invention is directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the above-described problems in the priorart by providing a method of attaching a housing for an electricalfixture to an electrical junction box, comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) attaching a cross member to an electrical junction box, the        cross member including a locking post extending in a first        direction from the cross member;    -   (b) moving a housing of an electrical fixture to receive the        locking post in an opening of the housing; and    -   (c) moving a locking member that defines an engager at a first        end through a slot in a side wall of the housing relative to the        housing from a first position where the locking post is received        in the opening to a second position to engage the locking member        to the locking post;    -   whereby the locking member engaged with the locking post secures        the housing to the electrical junction box.

Objects, advantages and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following detailed description of theinvention and claims in view of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view a mounting bracket according tothe present invention for securing an electrical fixture to a junctionbox.

FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective view an opposing side of a plate ofthe mounting bracket illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates in detailed perspective view a locking member in afirst position slidably engaged with the plate illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates in detailed perspective cut-away view the lockingmember of the mounting bracket in a second position engaged to a lockingpost for securing the electrical fixture to the junction box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates inperspective view a mounting bracket 10 according to the presentinvention for securing a housing 12 of an electrical fixture to ajunction box 14 attached to a joist 16 illustrated in a ceiling portionof a room. The mounting bracket 10 includes an upper assembly 15 and alower hanging assembly 17.

The lower hanging assembly 17 includes a plate 18 configured for beingreceived by the housing 12. A wall or flange 20 extends from an edge ofa first side 19 of the plate 18. The flange 20 includes portions 21 thateach define an opening 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the portions21 are thickened relative to the flange 20. The openings 22 are threadedfor receiving screws 23. The first side 19 of the plate includes supportribs 24 generally for rigidity. The plate 18 defines an opening 26 whichin the illustrated embodiment is positioned central to the plate 18. Aplurality of arcuate flanges 29 extend from the plate 18 about theopening 26. The flanges 29 are spaced-apart to define gaps 31, for apurpose discussed below. The plate 18 further defines a second opening28 and a third opening 27 that are each offset from the opening 26, forpurposes discussed below.

The housing 12 is configured for receiving the plate 18. An edge portionof the housing 18 defines openings 30 that align with the openings 22 inthe flange 20 when the plate 18 connects to the housing 12. The screws23 pass through the respective aligned openings 30, 22 to secure theplate 18 to the housing 12. The housing 12 encloses electricalcomponents of an electrical fixture to be attached to the electricaljunction box. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 encloses atransformer (not illustrated) that provides electrical current to aribbon-track lighting fixture generally 34. An edge portion of thehousing 12 defines a slot 36. In the illustrated embodiment, one of theopenings 30 is between the slot 36 and an edge of the housing 12.

The upper assembly 15 includes a cross-member 40. The cross-member 40defines opposing slots 42 and a central opening 44, as illustrated indetailed break-away view. A locking post 46 attaches to the cross-member40. The locking post 46 defines a first threaded end 48 and an opposingflanged end 50. The threaded end 48 extends through the opening 44 andengages a nut 52 to secure the locking post 46 to the cross member 40.The flanged end 50 defines a recessed groove 54 extending about theexterior of the locking post 46. The groove 54 is defined intermediate adistal flange 51 and a support flange 53. The distal flange 51 is sizedfor being received in the opening 26 of the plate 18. The support flange53 extends radially outwardly to an extent that is greater than the edgeof the distal flange 51. A pair of opposing arms 55 project radiallyfrom the support flange and are sized for being received in the gaps 31defined by the arcuate flanges 29 on the plate 18. The cross member 40defines opposing openings 57 as well as an opening 59 for a conventionalground screw. A portion 49 of the locking post 46 adjacent the supportflange 53 defines opposing flat faces for receiving a tool for holdingthe locking post 46 while tightening the nut 52 to secure the lockingpost to the cross member 40.

The electrical junction box 14 is conventional and mounts with fasteners(not illustrated) to the joist 16. As illustrated in cut-away view, thejunction box 14 includes opposing ears 56 that define openings. Screws58 extend through the openings 57 (or the slots 42) in the cross member40 as well as through the openings in the ears 56 to secure thecross-member 40 to the electrical junction box 14. The electricaljunction box 14 defines knock-outs or openings 60 for passage of aconduit 58 carrying electrical wires into the junction box 14 forconnecting and supplying electrical current to an electrical fixture,such as the fixture 34.

FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective view an opposing side 62 of the plate18 with a locking member 63 exploded away. A pair of flanges 64 extendfrom either side of the opening 26 to define a track 66. The flanges 64each have a pair of spaced-apart tabs 68 that extend towards the tabs 68on the opposing flange 64. Recesses 70, 71 are defined in the inwardface surfaces of the opposing flanges 64. The recesses 70, 71 in theillustrated embodiment are substantially in alignment with the tabs 68.A stop 72 extends from the plate 18 beyond a distal extent of at leastone of the flanges 64 and on an opposing side of the opening 26. Thestop 72 is disposed generally transverse to the track 66. A open loop 74extends from the plate 18 adjacent the opening 27. A ring 78 attaches achain 80 to the loop 74. The chain 80 extends through the opening 27. Ahook 82 attaches to a distal end of the chain 80.

The lower hanging assembly 15 further includes a locking member 63adapted to be received on the track 66 for sliding movement guided bythe opposing flanges 64. The locking member 63 defines an engager 86 ata first distal end and a locking device 88 at an opposing distal end.The engager 86 includes a pair of spaced-apart arms 92 that extendlongitudinally. The arms 92 define an arcuate slot 94 in the distalportion of the locking member 63. In the illustrated embodiment, theinner edges of the arms 92 that define the slot 94 are arcuate to defineat least a portion of a cylinder for engaging the groove 54 in thelocking post 46. A projection 98 extends from an outer edge of each arm92 in a distal portion thereof. The projection 98 is detachablyreceivable in respective recesses 70, 71, as discussed below.

The locking device 88 includes a U-shaped handle or frame 100 thatdefines an opening 102. The frame 100 extends from a main body portionof the locking device 88. An arm 104 attaches at a first end to the mainbody portion as a cantilever inwardly of the frame 100. The arm 104tapers from a narrow thickness at the connection with the main bodyportion to a greater thickness in an intermediate portion of the arm.The arm 104 terminates in a tab 106 that extends longitudinally from astop wall 108 at the intermediate portion of the arm towards an outerextent of the frame 100. The arm 104 moves relative to the frame 100, asindicated by the arrow 109, as discussed below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective partial view of the locking member 63slidably received by the plate 18 with the locking device 88 includingthe frame 100 and arm 104 extending from the slot 36 of the housing 12.The locking member 63 is disposed in a first position for connecting thehousing 12 to the junction box 14, as discussed below.

FIG. 4 illustrates in detailed perspective cut-away view the lockingmember 63 of the mounting bracket 10 in a second position engaged to thelocking post 46 for securing the housing 12 to the junction box 14. Thearms 92 of the engager 86 extend beyond the opening 26 and the edges ofthe arms are received in the groove 54 of the locking post 46. Thesupport flange 53 (shown in partial cut-away) seats on the plate surface19 about the opening while the distal flange 51 is received within theopening 26.

The mounting bracket 10 of the present invention secures the housing 12to the junction box 14. With respect to FIG. 2, the lower hangingassembly 15 assembles with the track 66 slidingly receiving the lockingmember 63 between the flanges 64. The tabs 68 hold the locking member 63in the track 66 and prevent the locking member from movement outside aplane relatively parallel to and in close proximity with the plate 18.The recesses 70, 71 receive the projections 98 as detents duringlongitudinal movement of the locking member 63 relative to the plate asguided by the flanges 64.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the plate 18 is inverted for beingreceived in the open end of the housing 12. The electrical wires fromthe electrical device in the housing 12 (in the illustrated embodiment,a transformer) thread from the second side 62 of the plate through theopening 28 to the first side 19 of the plate. The chain 80 passesthrough the opening 27 and attaches with the ring 78 to the loop 74. Thelocking device 88 of the locking member 63 inserts through the slot 36.The screws 23 thread through the openings 30 in the housing 12 and thealigned openings 22 in the plate 18 to secure the plate 18 to thehousing 12.

With reference to FIG. 1, the mounting bracket 10 is used to support thehousing 12 from the electrical junction box 14. The cross member 40 withthe locking post 46 attaches to the electrical junction box 14. This isaccomplished by passing screws through the holes 57 in the cross member40 and into the openings in the ears 56 of the junction box 14. Theflanged end 50 of the locking post 46 extends downwardly from thejunction box 14 in the ceiling.

The housing 12 closed by the plate 18 is then attachable to the crossmember 40 and thereby to the electrical junction box 14. First, the hook82 attaches to the cross member 40, such as by engaging one of the slots42. The chain 80 suspends the lower hanging assembly 15 including thehousing 12 from the cross member 40. The electric wires extendingthrough the opening 28, such as those associated with the transformer,are then wired to the electrical wires 58 extending from the junctionbox 14. With the housing 12 suspended by the chain 80, the installerreadily connects the electrical wires without having to hold the housing12.

Second, the hook 82 is disengaged from the cross member 40 while holdingthe housing 12. It is to be appreciated that the chain 80 and itsfunction of suspending the housing 12 facilitates wiring andinstallation, but is not a component or needed element of the mountingbracket 10.

Being held, the housing 12 is then raised to a position generally belowthe cross member 40. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the opening 26 isaligned with the locking post 46 depending from the cross member 40. Theflanged end 50 of the locking post 46 inserts into the plate 18 throughthe central opening 26. The distal flange 51 fits into the opening 26.The arms 55 align with and are received in opposing gaps 31 between thearcuate flanges 29. The support flange 53 seats against the first side19 of the plate 18. The arms 55 in the gaps 31 prevent the locking post46 from rotating relative to the plate 18.

The plate 18 is then secured to the cross member 40. With reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, this is accomplished by moving the locking member 63 fromits first position (FIG. 3) with the locking device 88 outwardly of thehousing 12 to a second position (FIG. 4) with only a tip portion of thelocking device extending from the housing. The locking member 63slidingly moves along the track 66 guided by the flanges 66 and the tabs68. This sliding movement causes the arms 92 to move into the groove 54in the locking post 46. The projections 98 detach from the detentrecesses 71 as the locking member 63 moves longitudinally towards theopening 26. The projections 98 contact distal ends of the flanges 64.The groove 54 of the locking post 46 receives the arcuate portion of theslot 94 in the engager 86 and thereby the arms 92 engage the lockingmember 63 to the locking post 46. This secures the housing 12 to thecross member 40 and thus to the electrical junction box 14.

As indicated above, the arm 104 moves 109 relative to the frame 100 asthe locking device 88 moves longitudinally through the slot 36. The edgeof the slot bears on the sloped surface of the arm and causes the arm104 to move 109 in within the frame 100. Once the stop wall 108 clearsthe wall of the housing 12 by continued longitudinal movement of thelocking member 63, the arm 104 moves in an opposite direction. The stopwall 108 then bears against an inner wall of the housing 12. The tab 106and a tip portion of the frame 100 remain extending out of the slot 36.However, the stop wall 108 prevents the locking member 63 fromindependent opposing longitudinal movement out of engagement with thelocking post 46. As explained above, simultaneous with longitudinalmovement of the locking member 63, the arms 92 move into the groove 54of the flanged end 50 of the locking post 46. The locking post 46thereby communicates the loading of the housing 12 to the cross member40 and thus to the electrical junction box 14. It is to be appreciatedthat the stop 72 prevents the locking member 63 from further movement.

The housing 12 may however be removed if necessary. This is accomplishedby disengaging the mounting bracket 10 from the junction box 14. First,the arm 104 is moved relative to the frame 100 until the distal edge ofthe stop wall 108 is disposed fully within the opening 102 defined bythe frame 100. This is accomplished by pushing the tab 108, for example,with a flat blade device, such a screw driver. Pushing on the tab 108causes the arm 104 to move and bring the distal edge of the taperedportion within the opening of the frame 100. While the housing 12 isbeing held, the locking member 80 is then pulled outwardly away from thewall of the housing through the slot 36. The face of the sloped portionof the arm 104 slides in contact with an edge of the slot 36. As thelocking member 80 moves outwardly, the arms 92 retract relative to thegroove 54 and thereby disengage the slot 94 from the locking post 46.The hook 82 is engaged to the cross member 40, and the hosing allowed tosuspend by the chain 80. The electrical wires are then disconnected. Thehook 82 is released from the cross member 40 and the housing 12 removed.

This specification has described the present invention that provides themounting bracket for securing electrical fixtures to junction boxes,which mounting bracket readily attaches and detaches while holding theelectrical fixture engaged to the junction box. It is to be understood,however, that numerous changes and variations may be made in theconstruction of the present wipe pad within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention, and that modifications and changes may be madetherein without departing from the scope thereof as set forth in theappended claims.

1. A method of attaching a housing for an electrical fixture to anelectrical junction box, comprising the steps of: (a) attaching a crossmember to an electrical junction box, the cross member including alocking post extending in a first direction from the cross member; (b)moving a housing of an electrical fixture to receive the locking post inan opening of the housing; and (c) moving a locking member that definesan engager at a first end through a slot in a side wall of the housingrelative to the housing from a first position where the locking post isreceived in the opening to a second position to engage the lockingmember to the locking post; whereby the locking member engaged with thelocking post secures the housing to the electrical junction box.
 2. Themethod as recited in claim 1, wherein prior to step (b) suspending thehousing relative to the electrical junction box and making electricalconnections.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step (c)comprises moving the locking member longitudinally guided by opposingflanges extending from a portion of the housing.
 4. The method asrecited in claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises moving thelocking member through a slot in a wall of the housing; and furthercomprising the steps of positioning a locking tab for passing throughthe slot substantially co-planar with the locking member; and releasingthe locking tab for contacting a portion of the wall of the housing torestrict reverse longitudinal movement of the locking member through theslot.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising stoppingthe longitudinal movement of the locking member upon contact with astop.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (c) furthercomprises the step of receiving opposing projections on distal endportions of spaced-apart arms extending from the locking member intorecesses in the locking post.
 7. The method as recited in claim 1,further comprising the step of: (d) moving a cantilevered sloped armattached to a portion of the locking member opposing the engager from anextended position to a retracted position as the portion moves throughthe slot; and (e) releasing the sloped arm to the extended position tolock the locking member to the housing, whereby the locking member isrestricted from opposing longitudinal movement relative to the housing.8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising with the housingattached to the cross arm, the step of moving the cantilevered slopedarm from the extended position to the retracted position for sliding thelocking member in an opposing direction whereby the engager releasesfrom the locking post as the locking member moves laterally through theslot away from the housing.
 9. The method as recited in claim 1, whereinstep (c) moving the engager comprises moving a pair of spaced-apart armsextending longitudinally from the first end of the locking member whicharms defining a slot therebetween; and wherein the locking post definesa recessed groove, whereby the arms are slidably received in the grooveupon moving the locking member to the second position.